Here’s how Tennessee’s seven new undrafted defensive backs stack up—along with what they bring to a corner room still in need of proven veterans:
| Player | School | Size (Ht/Wt) | Position | Key Trait | Projection |
| Jermari Harris | Iowa | 6′1″ / 192 lb | Outside Corner | Length, press-man potential | Training-camp starter in press scheme; has ideal frame but raw hips. |
| Garnett Hollis Jr. | WKU | 5′11″ / 185 lb | Slot/Nickel CB | Quick-twitch, route anticipation | Special-teams asset; slot depth with upside in Zone-coverage. |
| Jalen Kimber| Penn State | 6′0″ / 197 lb | Slot CB | Physicality vs. press; experience vs. top WRs | Hybrid safety/slot project; could battle for nickel role. |
| Virgil Lemons | West Florida | 6′0″ / 195 lb | Versatile DB | Ball skills—13 INTs in two years | Developmental; may start on PS, high upside in zone. |
| Clarence Lewis| Syracuse | 6′0″ / 200 lb | Safety/CB | Length, run support | Tweener—competing for safety spot but could shift outside. |
|Davion Ross| Memphis | 6′2″ / 192 lb | Outside Corner | Long speed, competitive toughness | Long-shot for 53-man; plus special-teams speed. |Jerrin Thompson | Auburn | 5′11″ / 188 lb | Slot CB/Nickel | Quick feet, zone awareness | Day-3 pick sort of profile; should compete for PS vs. nickel role.
What This Means for Tennessee
Quantity over certainty: Seven new DBs give volume in training camp, but UDFA odds are long—historically only one in three make an active roster.
Scheme fit: The Titans’ quarters-heavy approach favors longer, press-capable corners like Harris and Ross—but both need refinement.
Special teams currency: Look for Hollis Jr. and Ross to earn their spots early by making kick-coverage contributions.
Safety/slot versatility: Lewis and Kimber offer swing-role value, but neither pulls the needle enough to trust as a Week 1 starter.
Even if one or two of these rookies surprise, none arrive with the proven track record to slot in Day 1 behind L’Jarius Sneed (or as CB1 should Sneed’s availability remain in question). A high-floor vet like Kendall Fuller (or another ex-starter) would:
Immediately stabilize the boundary or nickel spot
Mentor the UDFA class—boosting their transition
Allow DC to rotate more confidently in quarters coverage.
Bottom Line:Tennessee’s UDFA haul provides warm bodies and intriguing traits—but the Titans’ brass should still target at least one seasoned corner to ensure Week 1 readiness. Would you like a deeper dive into how any of these rookies compare, athletically or by college production, to established vets?
Leave a Reply